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Toyota Safety Sense announced as free on the AYGO

Greater peace of mind for first-time and younger drivers

Toyota Ireland has become the first motoring manufacturer in Ireland to offer even greater peace of mind to first-time and younger drivers when it comes to their safety on Irish roads, with today’s announcement that it is fitting its state-of-the-art ‘Toyota Safety Sense’ technology pack as standard in its most affordable model, the Toyota AYGO.

AYGO is the first A-Class vehicle in Ireland to feature such advanced safety equipment at no extra cost to the driver.

Until now, there hasn’t been an affordable option for younger drivers to avail of potentially life-saving on-board safety technologies, which they arguably may need given they have less experience of driving.

Liz O’Donnell, Chairperson of the Road Safety Authority who recently spoke at the Toyota Ireland AGM, said, “Our statistics show very clearly that younger drivers are the most vulnerable age group, with 16-25 year olds making up 25% of all driver fatalities in 2014. Any technology or advancement that improves road safety for drivers on Irish roads is sincerely welcomed by the R.S.A.”

As cost is usually an issue, first time drivers typically buy older model second hand cars which have a much lower level of safety features due to their age. However, over 70% of fatalities of drivers under the age of 25 occur in vehicles which are on average 16 years old. It is Toyota’s hope that by providing cars with a significantly higher level of safety specification at a very affordable price, the statistics can be dramatically improved. Leading by example, the Toyota AYGO, replete with its state-of-the-art Toyota Safety Sense package, is available from just €122 per month.

Toyota’s ‘Safety Sense’ is designed to help prevent or mitigate collisions across a wide range of traffic situations, and includes the following features:

Pre-Collision System (PCS) – Uses a camera and laser to detect other vehicles in the road ahead. When there is a possibility of a collision it prompts the driver to brake with an audible and visual alert. If the driver fails to react in time, the system automatically applies the brakes to prevent or mitigate against a collision.

Lane Departure Alert (LDA) – the system monitors lane markings and helps prevent accidents and collisions caused by leaving lanes. If the vehicle starts to deviate from the lane without the indicators having been engaged, LDA warns the driver with an audible and visual alert.

Chief Executive of Toyota Ireland, Steve Tormey, said: “At Toyota we’re incredibly focused on delivering technologies which can help make Irish roads safer. The AYGO in particular is a very popular car amongst young and first time drivers, due to its high level of specification, stylish looks and overall affordability. We are delighted to now be able to include Toyota Safety Sense as standard in these vehicles to help younger drivers stay safe.”